Errors-To: admin at elephant-talk dot com Reply-To: newsletter at elephant-talk dot com Sender: moderator at elephant-talk dot com Precedence: bulk From: moderator at elephant-talk dot com To: newsletter at elephant-talk dot com Subject: Elephant Talk #1217 E L E P H A N T T A L K The Internet newsletter for Robert Fripp and King Crimson enthusiasts Number 1217 Wednesday, 23 November 2005 Today's Topics: NEWS: DGM Live Krimson News new fripp project Early Crimson ProjeKction Newsletter - Exclusive TUNER Interview Between-song banter Re: Chromatic FAntasy (tab) "Preternatural sensitivities" DGM Aphorisms Greg Lake Slides and Soundscapes - no thanks ETers tribute to KC Live in the USA Upcoming US Guitar Craft/Kitchen Craft courses Davo's prog taxi Vedres Csaba official site launched GIG REVIEW: Current Soundscape Tour, Wash DC. ------------------ A D M I N I S T R I V I A --------------------- POSTS: Please send *all posts* to newsletter at elephant-talk dot com ** Posts intended for the newsletter should have a subject prefix of ETPOST ** Posts intended for an individual newsletter contributor should have a subject prefix of their ET 'Ticket Number', shown at ETxxxxx in their 'From:' line in the newsletter. To UNSUBSCRIBE, or to CHANGE ADDRESS: Send a message with a body of HELP to admin at elephant-talk dot com or use the DIY list machine at http://www.elephant-talk.com/list/ To ASK FOR HELP about your ET subscription: Send a message to: help at elephant-talk dot com ET Web: http://www.elephant-talk.com/ Read the ET FAQ before you post a question at http://www.elephant-talk.com/faq.htm Current TOUR DATES info can always be found at http://www.elephant-talk.com/gigs/tourdates.shtml You can read the most recent ten editions of ET at http://www.elephant-talk.com/newsletter.htm THE ET TEAM: Mike Dickson (ET Newsletter distribution/subscriptions) Nadim S. Haque (ET Webmaster) Toby Howard (ET founder and Newsletter Moderator) Dan Kirkdorffer (ET Webmaster Emeritus) ET presents the view of the authors of posts in good faith, in a spirit of free and open discussion. The views expressed herein are those of the individual authors of posts. The ET TEAM accepts no responsibility for the views of authors of posts. ET is produced using John Relph's Digest system v3.7b. If you'd like to donate to the upkeep of ET, please press the "Donate" button at ETWeb. ------------------ A I V I R T S I N I M D A --------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:54:49 +0000 From: Sid Smith Subject: NEWS: DGM Live Hi there just a quick note to say that DGM Live is now up and running and open to the public. On the site you'll find Robert Fripp's diary (plus archive) lots of photographs from the King Crimson archives, fan reviews, some press clippings and several gigs from King Crimson and Robert Fripp available for download. Feel free to drop in and take a look around. For lots of Crim fun point your browser to www.dgmlive.com -- Best wishes, Sid you can read Sid Smith's latest blog at http://sidsmith.blogspot.com/ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 18 Oct 2005 16:48:04 +0200 From: "Mats Carlsson" Subject: Krimson News Hi Is a regular Swedish reader of ET and I'm just wondering what has happened to Krimson News. Halsningar //Mats Mats Carlsson Larare Sh och Hi Tfn: 0470-418 11 076 - 217 05 38 E-post: mats dot carlsson at kungsmadskolan dot se ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 20 Oct 2005 16:45:34 +0200 From: Roderich.Detten Subject: new fripp project good evening hippies, interesting news concerning a new fripp-project - to whom it may concern: on www.toyahwillcox.com, the official toyah website, in the "diary"-section under the headline "02/10/2005 - Toyah's Webletter - October 2005", you will find the following : "[...] I've just go off the phone to hubby Robert Fripp who is touring the USA with a British band called Porcupine Tree. My husband the ever reluctant performer has just taken my advice (believe me it's taken twenty years for this to happen) and he has pieced together a slide show of memories which is projected behind him on stage. It took a while to persuade him on this but I had to get the message across that audiences don't go to shows to stand on sticky floors and breath in bleach, vomit and beer fumes to see their favourite rock idols play in the dark. Audiences go to shows to share the space with their idols and learn something about them they could never other wise glean off a recording. So Robert now has a wide screen projector and I have just discovered a fair amount of the pictures on it are of me!!!!!! Why!!!!!!!!!! No one state side knows who the hell I am but at least I can now say I have played the east and west coast this year, and in the New York Town Hall! I knew I'd eventually make it in America and I have done it without even having to get a cargo seat on Virgin. I make a point to talk to Robert at least twice a day to keep his morale up, he is ready to retire, but to me that is a dirty word and anyway in two weeks time, the 17th October to be precise he starts on a new band project in Seattle with Peter Buck from REM, along with Bill Reiflin also REM and some other incredible heavyweights from the cream of the USA's rock royalty. I send Bill regular astrological forecasts, it's something of a hobby of mine, and it so happens the day the band start is a lunar eclipse, which is really significant because it will bring the project success. But not only that, all these musicians have a 'thing' about only playing needed and required notes allowing silence to be part of the music, a hard and possibly contradictory concept, so I asked the universe a question, Yes! I do speak to the universe (you should try it, you always get an answer). The question was ' what is the true meaning of space in music?' and the answer came back.........'What is silence to a newborn baby? What is sound to a newborn baby? It is both the realisation of it's own breath.' This gave me a bit of a 'wow' moment and I e-mailed it off to Bill and called Robert in New York, he had just got up, it was 7am and he was a bit home sick till I told him the answer the universe gave me and he had a 'wow' moment too and asked if he could use it. Of course I said yes. Watch this space who knows where that one will turn up! [...]" best regards roderich ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2005 14:32:18 +1000 From: NKell at xstrata dot com dot au Subject: Early Crimson Being one of those very lucky people who witnessed KC in the very early days (1969) at the Van Dike, Plymouth, England and two more times thereafter, stumbling out of the club totally mind boggled, I am delighted to have found this site and its' associated sites. My question: KCs performance at Hyde Park 1969 - (I've just bought the CD) - was it filmed? I know the Stones were, so I thought maybe KC too!! Just a thought. To think I had (long deleted I'm afraid) a recording of their performance at the Van Dike for the Fairport Convention Benefit. Unfortunately that night the Melotron broke down and 'Mars' just wasn't mars anymore - hence the deletion. Many thanks for the nostalgia Nick Kell ------------------------------ Date: Wed, 26 Oct 2005 05:15:16 -0700 From: webmaster at projekction dot net Subject: ProjeKction Newsletter - Exclusive TUNER Interview The following is an email sent to you by an administrator of "". If this message is spam, contains abusive or other comments you find offensive please contact the webmaster of the board at the following address: webmaster at projekction dot net Include this full email (particularly the headers). Message sent to you follows: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Hello! Just a brief newsletter to tell you about an exclusive interview we have on the site. We've been lucky enough to speak to Pat Mastelotto and Markus Reuter, the two brains behind the current TUNER project. You can read the interview by clicking: http://www.projekction.net/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=2636 But that's not all, we even have an exclusive remix of a track from the "TOTEM" album to accompany the interview. So if you want to know the whys and wherefores of TUNER, get on clicking! Regards, Darren webmaster at projekction dot net ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 16 Oct 2005 23:39:43 -0400 From: ago Subject: Between-song banter Hi All, At the end of the bootleg "Indiscipline: Mining Rocks" (which I purchased before I understood Robert Fripp's position on bootlegging) there are two good snippets. One was from an interview and he says something like "it's like the difference between a Hershey's bar and a fine French confection". The other was from a show, when he says "Two apologies. First, to all the people standing in the back, and second, to all the conversations we're interrupting." Regards, ago ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 06:42:13 -0700 (PDT) From: Frank P Subject: Re: Chromatic FAntasy (tab) Hi all, Ok, I'm still not convinced either way as to who performed this. The cd says "arranged by Trey Gunn" but since when does "arranged by" mean "performed by"? Also, it simply doesn't *sound* like a stick. The tone is much more guitar like. To me the stick has a more compressed, "tubular", sound whearas the recording of Chromatic Fantasy sounds wider, deeper and very bright, with more sustain than I've ever he So, I'm going back and forth. Can someone convince me with additional information/facts about the performance? Either way - Fripp or Gunn - it's amazing!! [ I saw Trey perfom this, on Stick. -- Toby ] Frank ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 19:58:15 -0500 From: Ryan Tassone Subject: "Preternatural sensitivities" Robert has often spoke about certain abilities he claims to have, which he has called "preternatural sensitivities." I am curious as to the sense in which the word "preternatural" is used. If Robert is implying that his awa reness goes beyond or violates natural laws in any way, then I urge him to contact James Randi, who offers a $1 million prize to anyone who can demons trate, under minimally controlled conditions, the existence of such abiliti es. Here is his website: http://www.randi.org/index.html Robert will find that the terms are completely legally binding. All he has to do is show t hat he possesses an ability that, be it "mystical," or "psionic," or otherw ise paranormal, nullifies a verified principle of science. I confess that my suggestion is partly ironic, because Randi has been running this sweepst akes publicly for decades, and not a single applicant has even passed the p reliminary test. This has nothing to do with an experimental bias on Randi 's part, as he is absent from the proceedings; independent judges preside o ver the protocol. The contest aside, my point is that while Robert has sho wn a remarkable level-headedness in an industry full of eccentric crackpots (many of them on crack and/or pot), I find it hard to believe that he, or anyone, is gifted with anything deserving of the descriptor "preternatural. " His response, in the past, has been that one who doubts the existence of su ch a thing does it out of shallow-mindedness, i.e. "Since I have never expe rienced such-and-such, it must not be real." This is true of many things, such as the way some people react to the idea of evolution through natural selection, or the Big Bang theory. However, the difference between the bli nd incredulity of these cases and my own skepticism about Robert's mental p owers should be clear. Someone who is unconvinced that plants give off oxy gen because they have never seen it may be easily informed through a simple empirical demonstration, and referred to scores of experiments successfull y verifying the hypothesis in question. When it comes to psychics, mediums , or others who claim to have supernatural abilities, not a single shred of real evidence exists to support the existence of such phenomena. Do pardo n my materialistic tone if you are religious, for the same problem exists i n that realm as well. There are anecdotes, coincidences, and some peculiar physical sensations perhaps, but nothing ever to definitively suggest that any human being can predict the future or "sense" things in a non-physical manner. Given the fact that all of science would be awash in celebration if such a thing were ever discovered, it seems highly doubtful that we've j ust missed it all this time. To quote Richard Dawkins: "Consider this. If a paranormalist could really give an unequivocal demonst ration of telepathy (precognition, psychokinesis, reincarnation, whatever i t is), he would be the discoverer of a totally new principle unknown to phy sical science. The discoverer of the new energy field that links mind to mi nd in telepathy, or of the new fundamental force that moves objects around a table top, deserves a Nobel prize and would probably get one. If you are in possession of this revolutionary secret of science, why not prove it and be hailed as the new Newton? Of course, we know the answer. You can't do i t. You are a fake." Of course, I don't believe Robert is a fake. A fake is someone who deliber ately dupes his audience for money, a charlatan. Robert truly believes in his sensitivities, his "points of seeing," the "entity" of King Crimson in his car, to the best of my estimation anyway. I could be wrong, and all of these things could be real. If they are, then Robert should contact James Randi (as well as the scientific community in general) and claim his prize . If not, then he should consider the possibility that not all skeptics ar e myopic basement-dwellers. Ryan -- ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 01:47:48 -0400 From: Giovanni Cerquone Ravelo Subject: DGM Aphorisms Dear folks; Some time ago Robert Fripp posted a (until that moment) complete list of the DGM aphorisms. I don't remember if that was done through the DGM web site or through the ET web site. Point is that I would like to get such list (or a more recent one if that exists). I'm confident that someone out there does have this compilation. Offline posting is good for me. Thanks so much in advance. Giovanni ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 30 Oct 2005 12:13:07 +0000 From: Jeremy Robinson Subject: Greg Lake Saw Greg Lake on the first night of his 2005 tour. Absolutely stunning! The ELP and King Crimson material still shines and resonates. It was striking how much ELP's music *really rocked* when performed live. It's not only intellectual or fiddly or pompous music, it really rocks out. And pieces such as 'Lucky Man', 'Schizoid Man' and 'Pictures At an Exhibition' were deeply moving. Seeing Greg Lake perform those songs was truly extraordinary - and as significant, for me, as any of the rock 'greats' (Dylan, McCartney, Bowie, Wonder, whoever). Amazing. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:34:44 -0500 From: David Kirkdorffer Subject: Slides and Soundscapes - no thanks Robert Fripp played soundscapes at The Berklee College of Music Performance Center in September. This is a hard room in which to play this kind of music. It's long and thin and that means the stereo image isn't wide, and the number of rows between you and the performer is on average more than one would ideally wish for. Prior to the performance, a slide-show was running with pictures of Robert and friends from across his life and journeys across the world. As a "pre-show" activity, it was somewhat interesting and offered an audience various "talking points." However, once Robert started playing music, I found the continuing slide-show both annoying and unhelpful. With his back to slides that were automatically rotating on a set timer, clearly the guitarist didn't adapt the performance to acknowledge any of the visual content. The images themselves were in no way related to the sonics we were taking in. And, as the images changed on a timer, they set up a rhythm that was completely unrelated to the cycle-time of repeating elements in the music. In short the images were a distraction that lessened the power of the music. And, as they were so large behind the guitarist on a screen, they were virtually impossible to ignore without closing one's eyes. This was troubling to me as I like to watch the guitarist as he works - his movements while playing accentuate and inform me about the music: And because his movements are coordinated with the sounds we hear, his movements help me follow the architecture of the music. But the 50-foot moving images behind the unlit guitarist this evening made it impossible to see the very slight movements he made. I think there were maybe four slides of some scenic / panoramic landscapes that I found somewhat interesting and seemed "in tune" with the spirit of the music. Perhaps if they could be used for about 10 minutes each, with a 2 minute fade up / fade-down so an audience can form associations (or not) with the music? I've performed ambient music many many times. Many times there is a talented video artist who is adding visual elements. However, I now would rather not have any images running at all. The random association of an image with a sound doesn't generally make either the image or the sound better. It generally just diminishes each element. Ultimately, if the music is really sucking, then adding visuals to distract the audience from the music is a good idea. However Porcupine Tree, who performed after Robert, presented videos to which the band performed in tight synchronization. Musical passages and punctuations were completely coordinated and coincided with the visuals all the time. The intent and purpose of the visual was to live with the music. Here, it was clear the band has designed their overall performance expressly to coordinate visual and sonic elements. One can argue if they liked or disliked the overall effect, but at least you knew how Porcupine Tree intended things to be. So, please more soundscapes -- but please no more random association slide-shows. David Kirkdorffer ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 07 Nov 2005 13:35:26 -0500 From: jnblock Subject: ETers tribute to KC You can hear the submission I did for this project (Sailor's Tale) at: http://www.synthblock.com/etape.html Jonathan ------------------------------ Date: Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:39:52 -0500 From: David Kirkdorffer Subject: Live in the USA The first track "Acceptance - Affirming" from the new CD of Robert Fripp soundscapes "Live in the USA / Love Cannot Bear" collecting recordings various eras of "soundscaping & frippertronicing," is sublime. The tenderness and emotional presence it offers is inspiring. Robert - thank you for continuing to allow yourself to do this, or as you may put it, letting this music come through you. ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 09:23:27 -0500 From: Guitar Craft Notices Subject: Upcoming US Guitar Craft/Kitchen Craft courses Two Guitar Craft courses are being offered January 21-26, in Mahwah New Jer sey. Introduction to Guitar Craft: Curt Golden and Sandra Bain Cushman Introduction to Kitchen Craft: Patrick Smith, with Sandra Bain Cushman and Curt Golden INTRODUCTION TO GUITAR CRAFT The Course is open to anyone that wishes to attend. No previous experience necessary. The New Standard Tuning and several basic Guitar Craft techniques will be presented. This Course is required of anyone who wishes to attend a Level One Guitar Craft Course with Robert Fripp. It is also recommended for anyone with prior experience in Guitar Craft who feels the need to continue their work, or to reconnect. INTRODUCTION TO KITCHEN CRAFT: "It is easy to forget that work in the kitchen is sacred: life dies that life might continue. The sheer pressure of delivering meals on time to hungry eaters, diet fetishists and gastro diners, is similar to the pressures placed on professional musicians: music is not a commodity and performance is not a commercial event, despite all evidence to the contrary." (Robert Fripp, August 23rd, 2005) This Course is open to anyone who wishes to attend. Patrick Smith will direct the course, and present basic techniques. Sandra Bain Cushman will be present the Alexander Technique as a way of learning the correct use of the body. Opportunities exist for those of all levels of experience in the Kitchen to deepen and broaden their practice. Personal initiative will be encouraged and nurtured. The Kitchen Team will be supporting a relatively small course, providing us a unique opportunity to experiment and improvise. How far we take this work will depend on the character of the participants. For DETAILS and APPLICATION INFORMATION on these and all other Guitar Craft courses, visit http://www.guitarcraft.com, or contact the registrar at "gcnafac at gmail.com". ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 20 Nov 2005 20:02:35 -0500 From: drg55 Subject: Davo's prog taxi KC fans who are lucky to travel in my taxi in Melbourne Australia, may hear Prog'opolis (internet radio show with King Crimson emphasis) broadcast out of my iriver mp3 player into the car stereo. This keeps me sane, and has resulted in tips, so its win win. I have been recording comments from some of the passengers and these can be heard from time to time on Prog'opolis. "funky, relaxing, enjoyable, all those things and a little bit more" (bank IT worker) Another guy, a journalist, who owned "Court of the Crimson King" after hearing Fripp's incandescent "Sailor's Tale" said "this is something that I'll definitely go out and buy, its a lot more dense than the other one I have" Cheerio, Davo from Downunder Try the New Netscape Mail Today! Virtually Spam-Free | More Storage | Import Your Contact List http://mail.netscape.com ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2005 13:20:16 +0100 From: Ferenc Riesz Subject: Vedres Csaba official site launched This is to announce the launch of the official site of Vedres Csaba, Hungarian composer and pianist, former member of the groups After Crying and Townscream. Both groups were heavily influenced by KC, After Crying used to play covers of early Crimson (including whole albums ItCotKC and Islands). http://www.vedrescsaba.hu/ Listen to the sample of Townscream's song "Hajnali enek" - it contains a quote form "Peace". Ferenc ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2005 18:26:46 -0400 From: mike mcgrath Subject: GIG REVIEW: Current Soundscape Tour, Wash DC. Understand your feelings, Ross. I experienced something quite similar in Seattle, in, I would guess 1995, when Fripp opened solo prior to the G3 tour. But, at this show, two baboon 'security gaurds' for Seattle Center were actually leaning on center stage from the audient - just BSing away like they were in a public park. Finally, RF sat his guitar down, and walked up to the front of the stage, saying "Exuse me gentlemen, but..." I, and about a dozen others in the first few rows, started applauiding. While these two were yapping, I was in the third row kinda giving RF a look like"Can you believe???" prior to him getting up. Hey, ignorance knows no discrimination. Just wanted to give you "I know what you mean" Mike McGrath Bayside, NY ------------------------------ End of Elephant Talk Digest #1217 *********************************